A day, week, or month in the life.

[Round4]

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I was wondering if anyone or everyone could give a rundown of a day, week or month is like in each stage of medical school? I've been lead to believe that there is no life outside of med school. Is this true or partially? I'm used to working 60-72 hour weeks in the welding field well until I quit in December. Is it that long of days or not? Just answer however your mind desire thanks everyone.

 

[DonkeyD]

I used to work 70 hour weeks building schools and the first year of medical school is CAKE compared to 70 hours of any labor.

As for "a day in the life" it really depends on how smart you are and what your goals are. Some people that are either not quick at putting things together, want exceptionally high grades/scores, or are highly inefficient are having to put in 70+ hour weeks.

If you're really smart, content with falling around the average, or highly efficient you could probably get through the first year (maybe two) with 40 hours of work/week or even less.

I can't say much about third and fourth, but probably expect to pull 70+ hour weeks most of third year and some of fourth depending on where you're working.

 

[Law2Doc]

I was wondering if anyone or everyone could give a rundown of a day, week or month is like in each stage of medical school? I've been lead to believe that there is no life outside of med school. Is this true or partially? I'm used to working 60-72 hour weeks in the welding field well until I quit in December. Is it that long of days or not? Just answer however your mind desire thanks everyone.

Sure. bear in mind that the answer is going to be different for every school, every rotation, and perhaps every student. But if you continue to log a similar number of hours toward med school stuff that you were logging in your prior career, you will be in good shape.

First year -- you attend lecture/lab from 8am on. Study for about 4 hours/day in the library (prereading, reviewing) -- more on exam weeks, use the remaining couple of hours/day to work out, watch TV, unwind. Sleep 8 hrs. Probably log 50-60 hrs/wk of med school related time on non exam weeks.

Second year -- pretty much the same as 1st year, but with more physical diagnoses stuff in the hospital, and the studying might take a bit longer due to volume, or a bit less due to increased efficiency.

Third year -- Typical rounding field rotation - Show up at hospital at 6am to preround. Attend morning report at 7am, rounding from 8-11. Didactics from 12-1. Finish notes and misc patient care activities from 1-6. Go home and have dinner (on non-call nights). Do a bit of reading up on your patients, a bit of studying for the shelf exam. Maybe work on a presentation you need to do. Unwind in front of TV for an hour. Sleep 6 hrs. Probably log 70-90 hours/wk of ward time + prep/shelf studying.

Fourth year - elective (for Sub-I just add at least an hour to the end of third year above, and subtract it from the TV/sleep period). Get to hospital at 9. See patients and learn from fellows/attendings until about 4pm. Call it a day. Do a bit of application stuff. Probably log 40 hrs/wk of coursework plus application stuff. (again 75-100 hrs/wk during sub-Is).

So as you can see you have time for a little life outside of med school in the first two years, maybe none during certain rotations in third year, and plenty during 4th year.